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In the first instance, Denver Broncos cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie was responding to Seattle Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman claim he was the best in the game.

“He has been playing well, but I tell myself anytime you have a Champ Bailey, Asante Samuel, Charles Woodson in the game you can't feel you are the best right now,” Rodgers-Cromartie said. “As good as you are, those guys have been doing it.”

That is the kind of respect Woodson commands around the league. He has played 16 seasons with 56 career interceptions, 122 passes defended, 27 forced fumbles and a NFL record 13 defensive touchdown returns. Even at 37 years old, Woodson was a factor for the Raiders this season. He started all 16 games and amassed nearly 100 tackles. He forced three fumbles, intercepted a pass, and scored the record tying fumble recovery touchdown. His play and leadership and some reasons Raiders general manager Reggie McKenzie wants Woodson back next season.

“I thought he was very solid and could contribute and I told him so,” McKenzie said at his year end meeting with the press. “I told I would like to talk about getting him back here.”

Even the great Peyton Manning could not keep the Raiders out of his mouth on Media Day. Manning was recalling the Broncos final regular season game this season in Oakland where the Raiders honored their 1983 Super Bowl Championship team.

“We played the Raiders the last week of the season and at halftime they were honoring the 1983 Raiders Super Bowl champs,” Manning said. “It really impacted our team. Coach Fox made a point that if we were to win it, you would always have that connection.”

The Super Bowl XVIII 38-9 win over the Washington Redskins was the franchises' last and third overall. McKenzie is now tasked to find a way to get the once great franchise back to that pedestal.

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Hall of Famer Al Davis took over the failing Raiders franchise in 1963, leading the team to a 10-4 record for the season and leading to Davis being named as Heado Coach of the Year by the Associated Press, Sports Illustrated, United Press International, Sports News and his fellow coaches.